Songs of the Humpback Whale: A Novel in Five Voices

By Donald Kingsbury, Gregory Benford, Mark O. Martin

Book Overview

Sometimes finding your own voice is a matter of listening to the heart.... Jodi Picoult's powerful novel portrays an emotionally charged marriage that changes course in one explosive moment....For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Jane turns on him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with their teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey charted by letters from her brother Joley, guiding them to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent -- and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743431014
• ISBN13: 9780743431019
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 1.1" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Marvelous debut novel

To say that Jane Jones is dissatisfied with her marriage is an understatement. She was originally attracted to her husband Oliver partly because he is an intelligent, hard-working, and well-respected oceanographer. Now those qualities are tearing apart their relationship, as his obsession with humpback whales threatens to destroy their marriage. The last straw occurs when Jane finds her closet full of Oliver's records and...

One of my favorite books...

Like some of the other reviewers, I initially found it difficult to 'get into' the characters, the story itself, and the plot. However, once I did, and once I was able to imagine myself in the dance Picoult's writing takes, I was mesmerized. I have never felt the kind of connection with characters in any novel as I have with this one. That said, it is far different from Jodi Picoult's other novels. I'm glad that was not my...

One of my favorite novelists!

I first became acquainted with Jodi Picoult when I read THE PACT two years ago, and fast became an avid admirer of her work.Family is the recurring theme in Ms. Picoult's novels and SONGS OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE is no exception. Told in five alternating voices, SONGS is the story of the search and discovery of true love and of second chances.SONGS OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE resonates with the beauty, grace and sensitivity of emotion...

Songs of the Humpback Whale Review

I bought this book when it was first published basically because I liked the title, and I thought it would be interesting to read a book that is told in five different voices. I was right. This is an excellent book, and, I think, the most overlooked of Jodi Picoult's novels. All of the characters are refreshing and new. It is not a story that is recycled from someone else's story. In other words, it is an original.It starts...

A GREAT STORY

Picoult is one of my favorite authors. This is her first book. I liked the style in which she wrote it, letting all the characters have a voice in the story, it is a good way to really get to know the characters, where they are going, and what they are thinking. She has a real knack for dialogue, and is a very talented writer... this is a must read!